Reviewing The Brew
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Brewers: 5 Pitchers Seeing a Velocity Increase in 2021

By Josh Waldoch

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - AUGUST 28: Corbin Burnes #42 of the Milwaukee Brewers pitches in the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Miller Park on August 28, 2020 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. All players are wearing #42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. The day honoring Jackie Robinson, traditionally held on April 15, was rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - AUGUST 28: Corbin Burnes #42 of the Milwaukee Brewers pitches in the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Miller Park on August 28, 2020 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. All players are wearing #42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. The day honoring Jackie Robinson, traditionally held on April 15, was rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – AUGUST 25: Brandon Woodruff #53 of the Milwaukee Brewers reacts after getting out of the fifth inning at Miller Park on August 25, 2020 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

RHP Brandon Woodruff

Brandon Woodruff is the second head in the Brewers 1-2 punch atop their rotation. Woodruff had a short start on Opening Day before absolutely shoving in his second start against the Cubs.

As was the case last season, Woodruff is relying heavily on his four-seam fastball and his sinker. Woodruff’s four-seamer is sitting just under 97 mph at 96.8 and the velocity remains quite level to last season. The four-seam is up 0.2 mph from last season to 96.6. He has recorded eight strikeouts with it this season, so far.

His sinker is up as well, from 96.3 mph up to 96.9. Woodruff has done a good job of avoiding contact, but most of his batted balls have come from his sinker. The pitch also has the lowest Whiff % of his arsenal.

Woodruff also throws a changeup that is clocking in at 86.9 mph as opposed to 86.7 last season. That very well could end up back at last year’s levels as the sample size increases. Woodruff’s curveball has seen his highest increase in velocity. It has gone from 83.5 mph up to 85.2.

Brewers starter Brandon Woodruff is also seeing an overall increase in his velocity from last season.

Just as the case with Burnes, Woodruff does have one pitch where he is seeing a decrease in velocity from last year to this. Woodruff’s slider has declined from 88.2 mph to 87.2 over the past year.

Burnes and Woodruff are the potent 1-2 punch for the Brewers. At this point of the season, they have done all they can do to put Milwaukee in a position to win, and the increase in velocity is helping with that.

RHP Freddy Peralta

“Fastball Freddy” is no more. Since moving back to the rotation, Freddy Peralta has been experimenting with more and more offspeed pitches. The results were good too, recording 14 strikeouts in 7 innings, but walking seven.

As opposed to last season, Peralta has added 1.5 mph of velocity on his four-seam fastball. It went from 93 mph to averaging 94.5 in 2021. Freddy’s curveball has gained an additional 0.5 mph from this year to last, now up to 80.2.

As Peralta continues to branch out on his offspeed selections, it will be interesting to track his velocity throughout. It will also be interesting to see how his velocity holds up if he does continue to act as a starter.

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